Tag: Estghlal

Ali Ansarian passes away. Another Covid19 victim.

Coronavirus took away another Iranian footballer.

The former Persepolis and Esteghlal defender, Ali Ansarian has died today  Wednesday in Tehran at the age of 43 due to contracting coronavirus and subsequent serious health complications.

Ansarian, who has previously played for Fajr Sepasi, Persepolis, Saipa, Esteghlal Tehran, Estil Azin , Esteghlal Ahvaz, Gostarish Foolad,  Shahrdari Tabriz, and Shahin Bushehr contracted the virus a couple of weeks ago. His health deteriorated rapidly and all efforts to save him were lost on Wednesday after he succumbed to the illness.

Kavianpour

Ansarian, who was taken to the hospital about two weeks ago, was being monitored with a ventilator due to his deteriorating condition. There were even reports of his condition improving in the past few days, but his condition worsened in the past two days.

The football veteran has also been active in the field of media and cinema in the past years and has acted in movies and TV series while appearing in several TV shows.

It was only last week that Iran’s football lost a footballing hero in Mehrdad Minavand due to a Coronavirus.

 Team Melli dot com extends its condolences to the Ansarian family and the football community for this loss, May God bless his soul

Hrvoje Milić : “Never felt safer in my life like walking in Tehran”

Hrvoje Milić the Esteghlal Croatian player expressed his disappointment and surprise by the decision of AFC to ban Iranian clubs from playing at home.

“I have never felt vulnerable on the streets of Tehran,” he said, stressing that Iran was safe.  “I have never felt safer while walking in Tehran”. “The way Iranians treat foreigners is remarkable, very friendly and hospitable. They go out of their way to help or guide you. I have always told my family that the Iranian people are courteous and  hospitable”

Hrvoje Milić the Estghlal Croatian player

The 30 years old Croatian footballer continued: “Life in this country is like any other country. People go to their workplaces and kids go to school. Personally, I would not have gone back to Iran if I felt that Iran was an unsafe place or there is a risk to my life.  I would have loved to play against the Kuwaiti team in front of 100,000 supporters, but this decision by AFC has deprived and surprised me from such experience.”

Esteghlal was scheduled to play Al-Kuwait Club in Azadi in the preliminary rounds of the AFC Champions League before AFC shocked Iran football by banning Iranian teams from hosting their matches.

Persepolis, Sepahan and Shahr Khodro have collectively refused to give up their legal rights of playing and hosting games in Iran.